ANTHONY JOSHUA has lashed out as his former coach for a lack of respect and his two-faced critics for being “clowns”.
In the aftermath of Joshua’s second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in August, outgoing Robert Garcia ended his one-fight role as trainer with parting shots against AJ’s training methods and close-knit team.
Ahead of Saturday’s comeback bout with Jermaine Franklin, a handful of TV analysts have questioned the quality of the American opponent, doubted Joshua’s remaining resolve and called for him to retire if he suffers a fourth defeat.
But the 33-year-old London 2012 Olympic legend has come out swinging for his former coach and the commentators who smile to his face and stab him in the back.
Asked if Garcia’s snipes were fair, he said: “When it comes to your head coach it is important to keep things in-house, especially when you are talking about your fighters.
“There are things I didn’t like about some of my old coaches that I could talk about but I don’t.
READ MORE IN boxing
“No one is perfect but, when you come together in arms to go to war, there should be a level of respect.
“I have worked with Sean Murphy and John Oliver in the amateurs, all the GB coaches, Tony Sims and Rob McCracken in the pros, Angel Fernandez, Joby Clayton, Robert Garcia and Derrick James and Garcia is the first one to say the things he said. I didn’t like that, I found it weird.”
Joshua brought in Garcia for August’s rematch against Usyk.
But after the Brit lost via split decision, the American coach said: “I don’t have to lie about things.
Most read in Boxing
“The first week that I was there, I told his management team ‘I need to go home, fly me home cause I don’t wanna be here.’
🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
“There were so many new people – who believed were not going to be there to help out – I told them ‘I need to go home’.”
Former world champions such as Carl Froch and Johnny Nelson have been ruthless about AJ’s defeats to Andy Ruiz and Usyk.
Both have earned the right to their opinion but Joshua wonders why they don’t message him directly and hopes they are as forthright in person.
He added: “These people that talk about me are looking for me to say something back but I don’t have much to say because these people are not on my level.
“What do I want to entertain a clown for? If someone has something to say to me, they can call me, they have my number.
“I don’t need to go online and voice my opinions on my enemies, I prefer to be silent.
“If I’ve something to say about you, you’ll see me face-to-face.”
Froch seemed to turn on AJ after he axed Froch’s friend and mentor McCracken.
But when Amir Khan went on social media in 2017 to suggest AJ was romantically involved with his wife, it was too bizarre to get caught up.
Read More on The Sun
Joshua said: “I messaged Froch direct and said ‘what you talking s*** about me for? Message me. With Khan and that s*** with his missus, why was he going online?
“Just message me if you have something to say. I find it awkward because where I come from, it’s not about chasing clout, it is about results.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
